Abstract

Seeds of fodder pearl millet ev. CO 8 were treated individually and in combination with insecticides viz. Diflubenzuron and Deltamethrin and Carbendazim, a fungicide and stored in gunny bags under ambient conditions of Coimbatore for a period of 12 months. The results revealed that after 12 months of storage, the seeds treated with Diflubenzuron @ 4mg kg + Carbendazim @ 2.5 g kg¹ of seed recorded the highest germination of 84 per cent and this was followed by the seeds treated individually with Carbendazim (2.5 g kg) or Deltamethrin (40 mg kg) recording 82 per cent germination, which were higher than the minimum seed certification standard (MSCS) for pearl millet seeds. Storage fungi and the stored grain pest of pearl millet were also controlled by these treatments.

Keywords: Seed treatments, seed storage, pearl millet.